Metallic packing



Feb. 19, 1935. z, K Er AL 1,991,893

METALLIC PACKING Filed March 28, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l I INVE TOR5 Z900E. //':k 9,

Jam P in? BY ATTEDRNEY Feb. 19, 1935. 2. E. FLICK ET AL 1,991,893

METALLIC PACKING Filed March 28, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III] Inn/ll '9will INVE TQRS Zeno f. //c/r ATTORh lEY metallic packing 'woundonPatented Feb-19,1935

P TENT OFFICE 1.991.893 mums memo v zenoE-Fli k, lachomlliehqa'ndlmbkrrlKansas Application March 28,

This invention relates to metallic packing and more particularly to apacking of this character for bination packing which not only functionsto provide a seal, but also serves as a metallic bearing liner.

Other important objects of the invention are provide a bearing packingwhich is preformed to readily take the identical shape of a bearing whenthe packing is compressed therein, to provide a packing containing alubricant adapted to be exuded therefrom when in use in'a bearing, toprovide a freely compressible packing which may be adjusted from time totime inmaintaining its seal and bearing surface over long periods ofuse,-to provide a bearing capable of seating inscored grooves and wornplaces in the bearing surfaces of a shaft, and to provide a packingwhich will not become disintegrated o1 dispersed because of such scoresand worn surfaces. 7

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, we haveprovided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which areillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of our improved a spool for storage. Fig. 2is an enlarged detail perspective view of like core which allows thepacking to readily take the form of a bearing and which serves to retaina lubricant. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view throughthe packing showingthe space within the tube-which renders the v formable so that itreadily takes the shape of a bearing in which it is inserted.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a per-- tion of a packing incoil form ready to be compressed into substantially the form of abearing. Fig. 5 is a similar view after the packing has been compressedand ready to be inserted into a bearing.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view and stuffing box illustrating as illustratedin Fig. 5 in position for sealing a rothrough a bearing tating shaft.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the inner portions of thecoils perforated to provide openings through which 'the lubricant isexuded.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a finished packing unit resulting fromthe coiled form shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view through the form of packingshown in Fig. 8.

use in bearings, stufllng boxes, and the like,- and has for itsprincipal object t9 provide a coma packing particularly illustrating thewick packing very elastic and easily de-' a packing unit such;

City, Mo.

1934. semi N. 717.814

20mm. (o1.154 45.5)

Fig. lois a perspective view showing-a preformed packing unit providedwith a spiral lubricant exuding groove.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectionthrough the form of packing shown inFig. 10.

- Fig. 12 is afurther modifiedforniof packing showing a lubricantexuding groove formed in the inner ends of the packing.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view through the modified form shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a further modified form showing the lubricant exuding groovesin. the ends of the packing.

Fig. 15 is a sectional packing shown in Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a single coil of the packing preformedinto a flat ring shape.

Fig. 17 is a further modified form of a single ring structure preshapedto conform to the end wall of a bearing.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a metallic packing embodying the features of the presentinvention and which is shown as including a continuous length tubingwhich has been extruded from relatively soft, formative metal, such asis used in bearings, for example, a' metallic alloy adapted to' resistaction of air, water, lubricant, and chemicals with which the packing iscontacted.

The wall 2 of the tubing is preferably circular in cross section and hasimperforate unbroken inner and-outer surfaces 3 and 4 and is capable ofdistortion when the packing is placed in a bearing, as later described.

Enclosed in the tubing is a wick like core- 5 consisting of a pluralityof loosely arranged strands 6 of fibrous material such as flax,asbestos,'or the like, and which is of such "size as: -to leave asubstantially unfilled space the tube, as indicated at so that the coredoes not act to prevent dlStQl'tiOIfiQf the tubing when the packing iscompressed into. bearing.

The wick like core, howeven'has sufficient body to prevent sharp bendingor kinking of the tube when it is stored upon a spool 8, as indicated inFig'. 1. The core is preferably impregnated with a liquid lubricantwhich maycontain a quantity of graphite and which is adapted to beexuded from the tube after the packing is placed for reception in thebearing.

Due to the fact that the wall of the tubing is view through the form offabric. I

within imperforate, the packing may be readily stored without loss ofthe lubricant from the core, but when the packing is coiled in thebearing and compressed, the lubricant is exuded from the ends of thecoiled tubing or through specially prepared openings to supply lubricantto a shaft around which the packing is installed.

In using the packing, sections of the tubing may be uncoiled'from thespool 8 and formed into a spiral coil as indicated in Fig. 4 by wrappingthe packing around the shaft and sliding it into a bearing, after whichthe coils are compressed to take the form of the bearing and provide afluid tight seal between a bearing and the shaft or other moving partssupported thereby.

We prefer, however, to preform the packing into substantially the shapeof the bearing in which it is installed by compressing the coiled formshown in Fig. 4 in suitable dies to form a substantially unitary ring 9having cylindrical outer and inner surfaces 10 and 11 substantiallyconforming to the outer and inner diameters of the bearing in which thepacking is to be installed.

When compressed, as shown in Fig. 5, the adjacent side faces 12 and 13of the coils are pressed into close contiguity with each other and theend faces 14 and 15 of the outer coils are bevelled toward-the peripheryto conform to the end portions of a bearing.

when the coils are compressed, as shown in Fig. 5, the wicking isexposed at the ends thereof, as shown at 16, to allow exudation of thelubricant which has been impregnated in the wick like core.

In Fig. 6 is illustrated the packing unit as installed in a combinationbearing and stuffing 'box which includes a wall portion 1''! having anopening 18 to pass a shaft 19 which extends through the stuffing box 20formed as an integral part of the wall 1'7. The outer end of thestuffing box is provided with an annular recess 21 terminating in aninclined seat 22 and the outer end of the recess is internally threadedas at 23 to receive a packing nut or gland 24 having an inner 'facebevelled as at 25 to conform to the oppositely inclined bevelled seat22;

The stufling box just described is of conventional type and isillustrated and described to show the adaptation of our improved packingunits.

In using a packing unit as illustrated in Fig. 5, the packing gland 24is removed from the packing box and the packing unit is slid over theouter end of the shaft until the bevelled end 15 thereof seats againstthe inclined seat 22.

The packing gland 24 is then reinserted in the stuffing box andtightened against the opposite bevelled end of the packing to force theinner periphery of the packing ring into sealing contact with thesurface of the shaft 19.

Compression of the packing unit will cause slight exudation of the oilfrom the core, tombricate the hearing.

The metallic portion of the packing which is forced into sealing contactwith the shaft thus forms a substantially continuous unbroken bearingsurface substantially in the same manner as a conventional pistonbearing.

Should the shaft have become worn, the packing gland is simplytightened. The deformable nature of the packing allows the packing toadjust itself to any irregularities or wornsurfaces in the shaft. Thepacking, therefore, not only maintains a positive seal, but also servesthe purpose of a bearing liner for supporting the shaft.

Should more lubricant be required, the inner periphery of the coils ofthe tubing can be perin Fig. 7 to provide openings 26 in the innerperiphery of the packing unit, as shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 shows a further modified method of providing for exudation ofthe lubricant which consists of forming a spiral groove 2'1 in the innerface of the packing unit so that the lubricant may be exuded entirelyaround the periphery of the shaft.

In Fig. .12, recesses 28 and 29'are formed in the outer ends of thepacking unit at opposite diametrical sides so that it is not necessaryto out across all of the coils to prevent weakening the structure.

In Fig. 14, the inner faces of the coil portions of the packing unit aresubstantially unbroken, but the bevelled ends are notched to providelubricant exuding openings 30 and 31.

In Fig. 16, is shown a. type of packing which may be used where it isnot convenient to slide a complete packing unit over the end of a shaft.

In this form, thesections of packing are cut from the spool 8 and formedinto individual rings which are flattened, as shown, to form asubstantially washer like member 32 having the outer diameter of thebearing and an inner diameter conforming to the diameter of the shaftwith which the packing is to be employed.

In installing a packing constructed of individual washer like rings, asshown, in Fig. 16, the individual rings are spread apart so that theywill pass over the shaft, after which the individual rings areconstricted about the shaft so that they will enter the bearing space insubstantially the same manner as the packing iilustrated in Fig. 6.

After long use, and when the packing can no longer be compressed, abevelled ring 33, as

shown in Fig. 17, will be applied and the packing gland 24 threaded intothe packing box to compress the ring into sealing engagement with theshaft, which will again reestablish the effectiveness of the seal.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that we have provided a packingwhich, due to its imperforate nature, may be stored on spools withouteffecting loss of the lubricant in the core and which, due to the natureand size of the. core may be readily coiled into bearingisha andcompressed to take the exact form of the bearing.

Also due to the relative size of the core. and tubing, the packing isvery elastic and easily deformable so that it forms a substantiallysolid bearing support'for a shaft entirely across the width of thebearing, thereby not only maintaining a positive seal, but at the sametime serving as'a metallic bearing liner.

It is also apparent that the pacldng is impervious to acids, lubricantand other fluids which may come in contact with the bearing and isnonresistant to heat under normal working conditions.

Attention is particularly directed to the fact that the tubing does notrupture when compressed in a bearing, but retains its tubular shape eventhough it has been deformed in application. This is due to the natureand relative size of the core whereby a substantially unfilled space isleft in the tubing.

What we claim and. desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bearing packing including an imperforate tube, and a wick in thetube of such size as to leave material space in the tube whereby when

